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FutsalWest

Rules

FutsalWest Indoor Soccer League Rules

Game time: A central clock will start games promptly at 5 minutes past the hour. A whistle blows at 30 minutes past the hour to signal halftime for all games. Teams and referees ensure the second half starts at 35 minutes past the hour, and games end when the whistle blows on the hour. After the game, players informally congratulate each other and quickly move from the field.

Warm Up: Will take place in South end zone WITHOUT a ball. Teams arrive early each week to warm up, as teams have five minutes on the field before kick-off.

Field size: If you are familiar with the Minnetonka High School Dome, imagine it cut into four fields. Fields are 40 yards long x 25 yards wide, with a Futsal sized goal. Don't worry...plenty of goals are scored! Goal boxes are 16 yards wide x 6 yard long. Corner kick restriction line is the edge of the goal box.

Players: All teams play with four field players and a keeper (5v5). Players can be added to rosters at any time, as long as all players are added to the roster before the start of the game. The is no limit to the number of players you can have on your team. We want to create the most competitive and fun environment possible, therefore we factor both age and playing level into team formation.

Referees: All games are refereed, and a site coordinator will be present to answer questions.

Uniforms: Teams are expected to wear matching uniforms. Home = light and Away = dark. If color conflict arises home team must change. Players must wear shin guards. Cleats are the preferred shoe on the dome’s new Field Turf. No jewelry can be worn during game play.

Ball: Games are played using an official futsal ball provided by FutsalWest. The ball is slightly smaller and heavier than a typical soccer ball, so it bounces less and stays on the ground more. Most players do not see much difference in working with a futsal ball versus a soccer ball, though they may want to put more “oomph” on passes and shots.

Substitutions:“On-the-Fly substitutions” are made at any time during the game through the midfield line ONLY. There is no need to wait for a stoppage, and the referee does not need to be notified. The other team does not need to stop or wait for your team to make substitutions. A new player cannot enter the field until the exiting player completely leaves the field. It is the manager’s job to ensure players receive equal playing time. Because of the time required to change keepers (switch jerseys, put on gloves, etc.), we ask that keeper changes be made at halftime.

Goalkeeper play: The keeper wears a different-colored jersey from other field players. Keepers can play anywhere on the field, but can handle the ball only inside the penalty circle. If a teammate intentionally plays a ball to the keeper in the penalty circle, the keeper cannot pick it up, unless the teammate heads or chests (above the waist) the ball to the keeper. A keeper who handles the ball must throw or roll it to another player within five seconds of receiving the ball (punting is not allowed). If the ball is thrown, it must bounce in the defensive half of the field. If it bounces in the offensive half, an indirect kick is awarded to the opposing team at mid-field. Keeper throws that bounce before midfield can continue into the offensive zone. Goalkeepers may put the ball down to their feet and play after making a save.

“Goal clearances,” “kick-ins,” kick-offs, corner kicks and free kicks: Futsal features “goal clearances” instead of goal kicks. When the attacking team passes the ball over the end line, the keeper picks up the ball and walks back into the penalty area, and then has five seconds to throw or roll the ball to a teammate. He or she can go anywhere inside the penalty area to distribute the ball. They CANNOT drop the ball to their feet and play it to themselves. If a keeper takes longer than five seconds to put the ball back into play, a indirect free kick is awarded to the opposing team outside of the penalty area. There are no throw-ins in futsal. All re-starts from the sidelines are “kick-ins,” where the ball is placed on the touchline where it went out and kicked back into play. A team cannot score directly from a kick-in. It must be touched by at least 1 other player on the field prior to going into the goal. Opposing players must stand five feet away from the ball during kick ins, and 10 feet away from corner kicks, kick-offs and free kicks. Players do not need to wait for a whistle when restarting play unless they ask the referee to move the defending players back the required minimum distance. In that case, play resumes on the whistle. Corner kicks take place as they do in soccer. With all kicks, when the ball is placed (must be a complete stop) in the spot from which it is kicked into play, the player has five seconds to put the ball in play. Otherwise, the opposing team receives a free kick from that same spot. All free kicks resulting from fouls are indirect, meaning the ball must touch another player before it can enter the goal. Kicks are taken from the spot of the foul, except for fouls committed in the penalty circle, which are moved outside the circle. There are no penalty kicks. Kickoffs can go in any direction. They do not have to go forwards.

Fouls: Futsal is a no-contact sport, which means there is no use of the body to establish an advantage over another player. Using the body to shield the ball is allowed, as long as the arms are not used to keep the opposing player from the ball. Contact fouls are called, as are delay-of-game fouls (taking more than five seconds to re-start play via a corner kick, goal clearance, kick-in or indirect kick). Unlike true futsal where players accumulate fouls and can be sent off the field if a certain number of fouls are committed, fouls are not tracked. That said, players who repeatedly and/or aggressively lead with their shoulders or elbows to challenge for the ball will be warned, and referees have discretion to ask players to leave the field. A player who is asked to leave the field will sit out the remainder of the half, and his or her team will play short-handed for that time. Other standard soccer fouls are called. Slide tackling is not allowed- players must stay on their feet.

6 v 5 or 6 v 4 rule: If one team goes up by 5 goals, then the trailing team can add 1 more player to the field (6v5). If 1 team gets up by 7 or more goals, then the leading team takes 1 player off the field (6v4). If the goal difference drops back below 7, then the game goes back to 6v5. If the goal margin drops below 5, then the game returns to 5v5.

Tie Breaker in a Championship/ Playoff Game: Ties will be broken in the following order

1. Regular Season head to head (Does not apply if more than 2 teams are tied with the same record)2. Goal differential (up to 5 per match)3. Goals Scored (up to plus 5 per match)4. Goals given up (up to minus 5 per match)5. Regular Season ReacordEx: If team A beat team B during the regular season. Team B must win the final to be named Champion